Tertiary education
Tertiary education includes Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university education courses. More information on financial assistance to help with the cost of your course fees are available from the Study Assist website. You may also be eligible for Austudy or Abstudy from Services Australia.
TAFE / Vocational Education & Training (VET)
VET courses focus on practical skills that will help you in the workplace. VET courses can be completed through schools (in years 10-12), universities, TAFE, private registered training organisations (RTOs) and colleges. They can also provide a pathway to university education. At the completion of your VET course you will end up with a Certificate I-IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Diploma.
You can complete a VET course as an apprenticeship while getting practical experience in the workforce. Further information on apprenticeships are available from the Australian Apprenticeships website.
You can search for a VET course on the My Future website or explore the tools and information which may help you decide on a future career.
You may also like to have a look at the employment and managing a business pages for help after you complete your qualification.
University education
Most people receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) as part of their high school education after completing year 12 which is an overall rank between 0.00 and 99.95. The average ATAR is usually around 70.00.
If you choose to attend university after finishing high school, you will enrol in an undergraduate degree. The minimum ATAR required to enrol differs from course to course. A Bachelor's degree is the most common course that is offered but you can also enrol in an Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree.
After the completion of your Bachelor's degree, you can then enrol in an Honour's course if it is offered or a postgraduate degree, including a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s degree or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or doctorate).
You can search for a university course on the Course Seeker website. You can also have a look at the Open Universities website if you want to study a university course online.
You will have to complete an application form to attend University in your final year of school, before you receive your final ATAR results. You can list your preferences and some students may receive an early offer of acceptance to a university. You can change your preferences after your initial application. For more information on applying to university, visit the links below.
